Wallabies taught a lesson on home soil

There is no point assembling one the best back lines in world rugby if you can't build a platform off which to launch it.

Not only did the Springboks hold Australia try-less for the first time in 12 years, notch their biggest ever victory in Australia and their first ever at Suncorp Stadium. Their four-try win exposed a costly absence of impact forwards, the Springboks monstering their hosts in the collision to starve the Wallabies of anything resembling momentum.

Related Articles

The loss of captain and pack leader James Horwill heaped on further strain, but nowhere was the power differential more visible than in the back row, South African flankers Willem Albert and Francois Louw dominating their Australian counterparts. It was fitting, then, that the man they call ''Shrek'', replacement prop Coenie Oosthuizen, burrowed over to score the Springboks' first try - and the only five-pointer of the first half.

It was trademark South Africa - a deep kick for touch and line-out a metre from the chalk - but it was Cooper who handed them the opportunity. The Reds playmaker, in an over-eager return to the No.10 jersey, was penalised for deliberately delaying halfback Ruan Pienaar's kick.

Advertisement

The Springboks went down one player when blindside Alberts received a yellow card for deliberately knocking down the ball.

You will now receive updates fromRugbyheaven Newsletter

Rugbyheaven Newsletter

Inside centre Christian Lealiifano slotted a straightforward penalty in front of the posts to make it 7-3.

A break by Nick Cummins caused momentary chaos for South Africa's defence but the Wallabies could not get close enough. Folau appeared to be put into a clean gap but didn't take it, the ball dying in contact with him.

Lealiifano closed the gap to 10-6 after the Springboks were penalised for not releasing 24 metres out on the left flank. Steyn botched a marginal drop goal four minutes later but was given a second chance and made it count, kicking the visitors to a seven-point lead.

Folau let the next one through, holding on to the ball with three defenders swarming the ruck. It was the story of the Wallabies' night, the Springboks stretching the margin to 10 points with five minutes left in the half.

The Wallabies hit back with a penalty goal after the break and threatened in attack but the Springboks back row had them on toast, their flankers turning it over and defusing instantaneously.

They survived a late assault at their try line by the skin of their teeth, openside Michael Hooper single-handedly batting back lightning outside back Willie le Roux on the chalk.

The Wallabies weren't going down without a fight, forwards Stephen Moore and Rob Simmons combining well within a minute of the re-start to put the Wallabies within striking distance. They came away with three points, putting Australia within a converted try of their opponents.

Ben Alexander was subbed on for Sekope Kepu at tighthead but the Wallabies had bigger issues, Hooper copping a yellow card for a lifting tackle on winger Bryan Habana.

The Springboks went 10 points ahead again with Steyn's fourth successful penalty kick. Australia hit back after Flip van der Merwe was penalised for obstructing outside centre Adam Ashley-Cooper. But the Wallabies needed so much more than Springboks mistakes. They needed spark and it was sorely lacking.

Lealiifano and Folau showed a glimpse of brilliance off prop James Slipper's tackle bust but nothing came off.

The Springboks on the other hand had Habana and captain Jean de Villiers, the former smoking Folau for pace down the left wing and the latter finding space and charging at it to score the visitors' second try.

Steyn missed his second of the match but the Springboks had the benefit of a 12 point buffer.

Hooper returned but it was too late. A Zane Kirchner try had the South Africans zinging and le Roux followed up.

The Wallabies are now one win from six and three losses in a row under their new coach.